“There’s a misconception that Unang Yakap (First Embrace) is only for low resource settings and not for hospitals. It is in fact a great equalizer. It can be practiced anywhere whether it’s a local health center or birthing center, a secondary or tertiary hospital. It’s a good thing that in our hospital St Luke’s, our administration was convinced about the benefits of EENC so they allowed us to undergo the training and implement it as standard practice.”

Jen Esteban

Mother

PHILIPPINES

“I just felt so happy that when JM was…

Jen Esteban

Mother

PHILIPPINES

“I just felt so happy that when JM was born, he was placed on my chest right after birth. He felt so warm. And then when I heard him cry, I couldn’t help but cry too. I said to myself, thank God he came out healthy. Thank God he’s okay.”

SOU NORYANAS

Midwife, Battambang Provincial Hospital

CAMBODIA

“When I placed the baby in skin-to-skin for the…

SOU NORYANAS

Midwife, Battambang Provincial Hospital

CAMBODIA

“When I placed the baby in skin-to-skin for the first time during C-section delivery, I was very satisfied. I want a good relationship between mother and baby, and for the baby to be warm. I noticed the mother’s smile that relieved her of all the pain.”

SOK BORAPHIN

Chief of Maternity Ward, Battambang Provincial Hospital

CAMBODIA

“I felt very happy when I placed the baby…

SOK BORAPHIN

Chief of Maternity Ward, Battambang Provincial Hospital

CAMBODIA

“I felt very happy when I placed the baby in skin-to-skin contact for the first time during C-section delivery. I saw the baby on the mother’s chest – he licked his fingers, crawled, lifted his head and the baby’s mother was happy to see her son. Practice of skin-to-skin contact can be effectively applied in the operating room if there is good participation and collaboration between surgeons, midwives and anesthetists.”

ALICE BAIRA

Midwife, Port Moresby General Hospital, WHO National Trainer for EENC

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

“EENC training has helped me in many ways but…

ALICE BAIRA

Midwife, Port Moresby General Hospital, WHO National Trainer for EENC

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

“EENC training has helped me in many ways but the first incident I really remember was when I used the bag and mask the first time. This mother was coming in from far away. It was a breech, they had been travelling for a long time and came straight in from the highway, and baby was already coming out. We took them in and made sure the resus table was close to the bed. Baby was born flat, so we applied bag and mask and the baby was breathing again. The doctor wanted to take the baby away to SCN (special care nursery), but I insisted on doing skin to skin immediately, and the baby started doing well. After only two days the mother and baby were able to be discharged; we were all surprised. The family members that came with the mother were very surprised the baby was still alive!”

DR BAOYANG YOUASY

Obstetrician, Xiengkhouang Provincial Hospital

Lao

“After I attended the EENC coaching in March 2015…

DR BAOYANG YOUASY

Obstetrician, Xiengkhouang Provincial Hospital

Lao

“After I attended the EENC coaching in March 2015 I changed my practice. In the past, after the baby was delivered, we did a quick drying, routine suctioning and cut the cord, and we would separate the baby from the mother and put him in a warmer. Now, after the training we changed our practice to put the baby on the mothers’ chest and both baby and mother looked very happy. Another good thing about EENC is that it is less work for health staff since we can monitor both the mother and the baby at the same time providing improved quality of care. We did face some challenges in the beginning because this practice was something new for all of us; nevertheless we tried to do our best and became familiar with it.”

Jiani Sun

National Professional Officer for Tobacco Free Initiative, World Health Organization

China

“Finally, Rocco was born on the afternoon of April…

Jiani Sun

National Professional Officer for Tobacco Free Initiative, World Health Organization

China

“Finally, Rocco was born on the afternoon of April 17, 48 hours after my water broke. I was really exhausted after the long delivery and can hardly remember everything. But I do remember the moment when the nurse put him on my chest. It was the magic moment. He was trying really hard to embrace this new world and embrace me. We felt so connected to each other. I just wanted to give him whatever I could through that connection, to warm him up and to make him strong. This was our first embrace, the warmest embrace ever. Welcome to this beautiful world, my son.”

Li Sisi

TV Anchor, China Central Television (CCTV)

China

“I carried him in my bosom, gently and warmly;…

Li Sisi

TV Anchor, China Central Television (CCTV)

China

“I carried him in my bosom, gently and warmly; as if he found comfort, his cries faded in my arms, and fell asleep contently. From the closed womb to the complicated world, all the sound and light was stimulating to him and a brand new experience.. Arriving at this strange world with nothing, he must feel cold and helpless in the beginning. Let mom’s first embrace warm him for the first time in his life, and wish his days ahead are just as serene and calm as this moment.